Local Restaurateur Rich Pepe, Actor Joe Pantoliano Given "Key to the City"

Online, January 14, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Carmel chef Rich Pèpe, and actor Joey Pantoliano are honored in Hoboken

Carmel, CA-- Local restaurateur Rich Pèpe has just returned from what he described as a "whirlwind trip" to Hoboken, New Jersey where the city of Hoboken honored him and his childhood friend at the local chapter of the Hudson County Boys and Girls Club.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer awarded the "key to the city" to Emmy Award-winning actor Joe Pantoliano and restaurateur Rich Pèpe, who grew up in Hoboken together back in the 60's.
Rich and Joe launched their line of pasta sauce last year named Pepe & Pants, and the profits go toward charities dealing with mental health issues. NKM2 (no kidding, me too) is the pair's non-profit charity: www.nkm2.org

The event on December 7th, dubbed "An Evening with Two Guys from Hoboken," also served as a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club. Sponsors, including the Hoboken Rotary Club, the Hoboken Housing Authority and real estate developer Frank Raia, sat at tables with kids from the Club, alternating seating between adult and child.

Together each table enjoyed a vintage Italian meal prepared under Pèpe's supervision, and which featured pasta sauces from the product line Pepe and Pantoliano started, Pepe & Pants (Pantoliano's nickname). Proceeds from the sale of Pepe & Pants products go towards No Kidding, Me Too, a charity that Joe Pantoliano founded to raise awareness of mental health issues.

After the dinner portion, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club Gary Greenberg introduced several speakers.

Mayor Zimmer spoke on behalf of Hoboken and highlighted Pantoliano's mental health charity. While the event was billed as her giving the two men keys to the city, she offered something much more genuine.

Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano represented the county to thank Pèpe and Pantoliano, and State Assemblyman Ruben Ramos and State Assemblywoman Joan Quigley spoke on behalf of the state of New Jersey. Both the county and state issued legislative proclamations on behalf of Pepe and Pants.

Both Pèpe and Pantoliano echoed the sentiments of optimism and giving back when they spoke to the audience at the end of the ceremony. The two men come from modest, working class means, and Pantoliano grew up living in the Hoboken Housing Authority.

Pèpe's grandparents immigrated to Hoboken exactly 100 years ago from Italy. "They arrived with $20 in their pocket," he explained. "They were hardworking, honest people, community minded in this wonderful town called Hoboken." Though he has since relocated to Carmel, California for his restaurant business, Pèpe was happy to have returned to Hoboken alongside his friend. "It's great to be back. Joey and I grew up together, we kept our friendship alive, and hopefully the children here at the Boys & Girls Club will make some bonds and friendships and create families."
Pantoliano then touched upon his own struggles as a child, including poverty and feelings of loneliness and sadness, and urged the kids in the audience to talk to their parents and friends whenever they feel bad about something.

"You might find that they say, "no kidding, me too," he said. Then, pointing to his friends Pèpe and Frank Raia as examples, Pantoliano inspired the children to follow their dreams.

"You need to leave here tonight knowing that if these guys can make something of themselves, that it's going to be easy for you to do the same thing."

Before the festivities even started, Pantoliano, who still maintains a residence in Hoboken, was already growing sentimental about the occasion of helping the community, seeing old friends and feeling at home.

"It's not about me being honored," he said. "It's about me being home and here with these people and these kids."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Rich Pepe lives locally on the Monterey Peninsula and is available for interviews in person or by telephone. Joe Pantoliano is currently lives on the east coast and arrangements can be made for telephone interviews.